Object monitoring, locating, and tracking system employing RFID devices

• US 7,342,497 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avante International Technology
• Original Assignee: Avante International Technology
• Inventors: Chung, Kevin Kwong-Tai, Chu, Cynthia Ting-Wah, Li, Jing Jian, Shi, Xiaoming
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/198,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20070013519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/571, 340/5.64, 340/5.65, 340/5.66, 340/10.1, 340/10.4, 340/10.42, 235/375, 235/385, 235/435, 235/439, 235/444, 375/295, 375/315
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

A system for monitoring a container comprises an RFID device interior the container and a receiving device exterior the container. The RFID device transmits messages each including unique identifying information, and the receiving device exterior the container receives and stores and/or relays messages received from the RFID device interior the container. Ones of the messages transmitted by the RFID device when the container is closed are not received by the receiving device and ones of the messages transmitted by the RFID device when the container is not closed are received and stored by the receiving device, whereby the messages stored in the receiving device provide an indication of whether the container has or has not been opened. Messages may include power level codes and be transmitted at more than one power level, and may be processed for locating and/or tracking the container.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring objects having an RFID device associated therewith that are in a defined space, said system comprising:

a plurality of RFID devices associated with respective objects, wherein at least ones of the objects and their associated RFID devices are within the space at least for a period of time, each RFID device comprising;

a memory having stored therein unique identifying information and codes representing at least two different transmitter power levels;

an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals;

a modulator coupled to said memory for modulating the unique identifying information and the transmitter power level codes stored in said memory; and

a transmitter coupled to said modulator and to said antenna for transmitting at least two messages via said antenna, wherein each of the at least two messages includes the modulated unique identifying information and a modulated different one of the transmitter power level codes, wherein the power level of said transmitter is controlled responsive to the power level code to correspond to the power level represented by the power level code in each transmitted message when each message is transmitted;

whereby the transmitter power level changes to correspond to the power level code contained in each of the at least two messages transmitted;

a plurality of relay devices arrayed in said space, each said relay device including a receiver for receiving the messages transmitted by said plurality of RFID devices and a transmitter for relaying the messages received from said RFID devices; and

a processor for receiving the messages relayed by said plurality of relay devices and for processing the information therein, wherein said processor decodes the unique identifying information and the power level code from each relayed received message for associating the received messages from each RFID device and the power level thereof, said processor selecting the received messages from a particular RFID device at the lowest power level that produces at least two corresponding received messages relayed by ones of said plurality of relay devices for determining the location of that particular RFID device in the space,

whereby the RFID device and its associated object are monitored.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least ones of said relay devices include a memory for storing records comprising messages received from said RFID devices, the information contained in the messages received from said RFID devices, or both, and

wherein the records stored in said relay device memory may be transmitted to said processor in response to a signal from said processor, or at a present time, or at a future time, or at a predetermined time, or any combination of the foregoing.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a terminal for communicating with said processor for accessing the information therein, said terminal communicating with said processor via wire, or cable, or telephone, or a radio link, or a network, or the Internet, or an intranet, or a local area network, or a wide area network, or a wireless network, or an ad hoc network, or a satellite, or e-mail, or a computer, or a laptop computer, or a personal digital assistant device, or a Blackberry-enabled device, or a Wi-Fi-enabled device, or a cell phone, or a WAP-enabled cell phone, or a pager, or any combination of the foregoing.

4. A system for monitoring a container in transit via one or more carriers from an origin location to a destination location, said system comprising:

a container having an exterior surface with a closable opening therein that when closed defines a closable substantially electromagnetically shielded interior space, wherein the closable opening is sealed at the origin location;

an RFID device disposed in the interior space of said container prior to said container leaving the origin location, said RFID device comprising;

a memory having stored therein unique identifying information and codes representing transmitter power levels;

an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals;

a modulator coupled to said memory for modulating the unique identifying information and the transmitter power level codes stored in said memory; and

a transmitter coupled to said modulator and to said antenna for periodically transmitting messages via said antenna, wherein each of the messages includes the modulated unique identifying information and a modulated one of the transmitter power level codes, wherein the power level of said transmitter is controlled responsive to the power level code to correspond to the power level represented by the power level code in each transmitted message when each message is transmitted;

whereby the transmitter power level of said RFID device corresponds to the power level code contained in the messages transmitted;

wherein when the closable opening of said container is closed said RFID device therein is substantially electromagnetically shielded and wherein when the closable opening of said container is not closed or said container is tampered with said RFID device therein is not substantially electromagnetically shielded;

a first relay device located at the origin location, said first relay device comprising a receiver for receiving messages transmitted by said RFID device, said first relay device further comprising a transmitter for relaying messages received from said RFID device when said container is at the origin location, a memory for storing messages received from said RFID device when said container is at the origin location, or a transmitter and a memory for relaying and storing messages received from said RFID device when said container is at the origin location;

a second relay device located on the carrier, said second relay device comprising a receiver for receiving messages transmitted by said RFID device, said first relay device further comprising a transmitter for relaying messages received from said RFID device when said container is on said carrier, a memory for storing messages received from said RFID device when said container is on said carrier, or a transmitter and a memory for relaying and storing messages received from said RFID device when said container is on said carrier;

a third relay device located at the destination location, said third relay device comprising a receiver for receiving messages transmitted by said RFID device said first relay device further comprising a transmitter for relaying messages received from said RFID device when said container is at the destination location, a memory for storing messages received from said RFID device when said container is at the destination location, or a transmitter and a memory for relaying and storing messages received from said RFID device when said container is at the destination location;

wherein ones of the messages transmitted by the RFID device interior the container when the closable opening thereof is closed are not received by any of the first, second and third relay devices exterior to the container and ones of the messages transmitted by the RFID device interior the container are received and stored by the first relay device when the closable opening of said container is not closed and/or said container is tampered with at the origin location, are received and stored by the second relay device when the closable opening of said container is not closed and/or said container is tampered with aboard the carrier, and are received and stored by the third relay device when the closable opening of said container is not closed and/or said container is tampered with at the destination location, and

wherein the messages received by said first, second and third relay devices and the power levels at which the messages were transmitted provide an indication of the location of said container and whether the closable opening of the container has or has not been opened and/or whether said container has been tampered with.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said RFID device further comprises a sensor of a thing and/or of a condition at or proximate said RFID device, wherein data produced by said sensor is stored in the memory of said RFID device.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the sensor data stored in the memory of said RFID device may be transmitted by the transmitter of said RFID device at a present time, or at a future time, or at a predetermined time, or periodically, or in response to an interrogating signal, or any combination of the foregoing.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the thing and/or condition sensed by said sensor includes an environmental condition, or temperature, or pressure, or position, or location, or motion, or acceleration, or impact, or distance, or inertial information, or magnetic field, or electrical continuity, or altitude, or a physical parameter, or moisture, or humidity, or a chemical, or a medical parameter, or a biological substance and/or agent, or radioactivity, or optical, or light, or infrared, or an image, or an electromagnetic field, or any combination of the foregoing.

8. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a processor for receiving the messages relayed by said first, second and third relay devices and for processing the information therein, said processor determining therefrom whether the closable opening of said container has or has not remained closed and providing an indication thereof.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said processor decodes the unique identifying information and the power level code from each message transmitted by said first, second and third relay devices for associating the received messages from said RFID device and the power level thereof for determining the location of that particular RFID device.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said RFID device, or said first relay device, or said second relay device, or said third relay device, or any combination of the foregoing, operates to transmit messages continuously, or to transmit messages periodically at regular or irregular intervals of time, or to transmit messages at programmable intervals, or to transmit messages at programmable power levels, or to transmit messages responsive to an interrogation signal, or to transmit messages until receipt of an acknowledgment signal, or any combination of the foregoing.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising a terminal for communicating with said processor for accessing the information therein, said terminal communicating with said processor via wire, or cable, or telephone, or a radio link, or a network, or the Internet, or an intranet, or a local area network, or a wide area network, or a wireless network, or an ad hoc network, or a satellite, or e-mail, or a computer, or a laptop computer, or a personal digital assistant device, or a Blackberry-enabled device, or a Wi-Fi-enabled device, or a cell phone, or a WAP-enabled cell phone, or a pager, or any combination of the foregoing.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the indication of whether the closable opening of said container has or has not remained closed:

is provided by the independent monitoring agency to the destination location;

or

is provided by the independent monitoring agency to a security agency;

or

is not provided to the origin location;

or

is not provided to the carrier;

or

any combination of the foregoing.

13. The system of claim 4 further comprising a fourth relay device exterior to and associated with said container, wherein said fourth relay device comprises:

a relay device physically coupled to or mounted to the exterior of said container;

or

at least two relay devices physically coupled to or mounted to the exterior said container, wherein a first of said at least two relay devices is located more proximate the closable opening of said container than is a second of said at least two relay devices;

or

any combination of the foregoing.

14. A system for monitoring containers having an RFID device associated therewith, wherein each of the containers defines an enclosable interior space, said system comprising:

at least one RFID device associated with each of the containers, each RFID device comprising;

a memory having stored therein unique identifying information and codes representing transmitter power levels;

an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals;

a modulator coupled to said memory for modulating the unique identifying information and the transmitter power level codes stored in said memory; and

a transmitter coupled to said modulator and to said antenna for transmitting via said antenna, wherein each of the messages includes the modulated unique identifying information and a modulated one of the transmitter power level codes, wherein the power level of said transmitter is controlled responsive to the power level code to correspond to the power level represented by the power level code in each transmitted message when each message is transmitted;

whereby the transmitter power level corresponds to the power level code contained in the messages transmitted;

a plurality of containers each having an exterior surface with a closable opening therein that when closed defines a closable substantially electromagnetically shielded interior space, each said container enclosing the at least one said RFID device associated therewith in its interior space so that when the closable opening is closed the at least one said RFID device therein is substantially electromagnetically shielded and so that when the closable opening is not closed or said container is tampered with the at least one said RFID device therein is not substantially electromagnetically shielded;

at least one relay device exterior to said container, each said relay device comprising a receiver for receiving messages transmitted by said at least one RFID device interior said container, a memory for storing the messages received from said at least one RFID device interior said container, and a transmitter for transmitting the messages received from said at least one RFID device interior said container or the messages stored in the memory of said relay device or both;

whereby messages transmitted by the RFID device interior the container when the closable opening thereof is closed are substantially attenuated and/or are not received by the relay device exterior to the container and messages transmitted by the RFID device interior the container when the closable opening thereof is not closed and/or said container is tampered with are received by the relay device exterior to the container, thereby to provide an indication that the closable opening thereof has been opened and/or said container has been tampered with.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a processor for receiving the messages transmitted by said at least one relay device and for processing the information therein, said processor determining therefrom whether each said container has been opened and providing an indication thereof.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said processor decodes the unique identifying information and the power level code from each message transmitted by said at least one relay device for associating the received messages from each RFID device and the power level thereof for determining the location that particular RFID device.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising a terminal for communicating with said processor for accessing the information therein, said terminal communicating with said processor via wire, or cable, or telephone, or a radio link, or a network, or the Internet, or an intranet, or a local area network, or a wide area network, or a wireless network, or an ad hoc network, or a satellite, or e-mail, or a computer, or a laptop computer, or a personal digital assistant device, or a Blackberry-enabled device, or a Wi-Fi-enabled device, or a cell phone, or a WAP-enabled cell phone, or a pager, or any combination of the foregoing.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

an object RFID device associated with an object that is related to a given container by a predetermined relationship, wherein said processor includes a database relating the at least one RFID device associated with the given container and the object RFID device related thereto; and

wherein the predetermined relationship includes proximity of the object and the given container, or absence of proximity of the object and the given container, or both, and wherein said processor provides an indication of whether the object and the given container are in the predetermined relationship.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the object includes a carrier carrying the given container, or a vehicle carrying the given container, or a driver or operator of a carrier carrying the given container, or a driver or operator of a vehicle carrying the given container, or an inspector of the given container, or a maintenance or service worker for the given container, or any combination of the foregoing.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein at least ones of said at least one RFID device further comprise a sensor of a thing and/or of a condition at or proximate said at least one RFID device, wherein data produced by said sensor is stored in the memory of said at least one RFID device.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the sensor data stored in the memory of said at least one RFID device may be transmitted by the transmitter of said at least one RFID device at a present time, or at a future time, or at a predetermined time, or periodically, or in response to an interrogating signal, or any combination of the foregoing.

22. The system of claim 14 wherein said at least one relay device exterior said container comprises:

a relay device physically coupled to or mounted to the exterior of said container;

or

at least two relay devices physically coupled to or mounted to the exterior said container, wherein a first of said at least two relay devices is located more proximate the closable opening of said container than is a second of said at least two relay devices;

or

a relay device of a plurality of relay devices arrayed in a space wherein containers associated with RFID devices may be located;

or

any combination of the foregoing.

23. A system for monitoring a container having an exterior surface with a closable opening therein that when closed defines a closable substantially electromagnetically shielded interior space, said system comprising:

an RFID device disposed in the interior space of the container, said RFID device comprising;

a memory having stored therein unique identifying information;

an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals;

a modulator coupled to said memory for modulating the unique identifying information stored in said memory; and

a transmitter coupled to said modulator and to said antenna for transmitting messages via said antenna, wherein each of the messages includes the modulated unique identifying information;

wherein when the closable opening of the container is closed said RFID device therein is substantially electromagnetically shielded and when the closable opening of the container is not closed or said container is tampered with said RFID device therein is not substantially electromagnetically shielded;

a receiving device exterior to the container, said receiving device comprising a receiver for receiving messages transmitted by said RFID device interior the container and a memory for storing the messages received from said RFID device interior the container;

wherein ones of the messages transmitted by the RFID device interior the container when the closable opening thereof is closed are substantially attenuated and/or are not received by the receiving device exterior to the container and ones of the messages transmitted by the RFID device interior the container when the closable opening thereof is not closed and/or said container is tampered with are received and stored by the receiving device exterior to the container,

whereby the messages stored in said receiving device provide an indication of whether the closable opening of the container has or has not been opened and/or said container has been tampered with.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said RFID device further comprises a sensor of a thing and/or of a condition at or proximate said RFID device, wherein data produced by said sensor is stored in the memory of said RFID device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the sensor data stored in the memory of said RFID device may be transmitted by the transmitter of said RFID device at a present time, or at a future time, or at a predetermined time, or periodically, or in response to an interrogating signal, or any combination of the foregoing.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the thing and/or condition sensed by said sensor includes an environmental condition, or temperature, or pressure, or position, or location, or motion, or acceleration, or impact, or distance, or inertial information, or magnetic field, or electrical continuity, or altitude, or a physical parameter, or moisture, or humidity, or a chemical, or a medical parameter, or a biological substance and/or agent, or radioactivity, or optical, or light, or infrared, or an image, or an electromagnetic field, or any combination of the foregoing.

27. The system of claim 23:

wherein the memory of said RFID device has codes representing at least two different transmitter power levels;

wherein the modulator of said RFID device modulates the unique identifying information and the transmitter power level codes stored in said memory;

wherein said transmitter transmits at least two messages via said antenna, wherein each of the at least two messages includes the modulated unique identifying information and a modulated different one of the transmitter power level codes, wherein the power level of said transmitter is controlled responsive to the power level code to correspond to the power level represented by the power level code in each transmitted message when each message is transmitted;

whereby the messages stored in said receiving device and the power levels thereof provide an indication of whether the closable opening of the container has or has not been opened and/or said container has been tampered with.

28. The system of claim 23 further comprising a second RFID device disposed in the interior space of the container and a second receiving device proximately exterior the container, wherein the number of messages transmitted by said RFID devices received by each of said receiving devices is indicative of whether the closable opening of the container is closed or is not closed and/or said container has been tampered with.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein said receiving device further comprises a transmitter for transmitting the messages received from said RFID device interior the container or the messages stored in the memory of said receiving device or both;

said system further comprising;

a processor for receiving the messages transmitted by said receiving device and for processing the information therein for determining therefrom whether the container has or has not remained closed, or determining the location of said RFID device, or determining both whether the container has or has not remained closed and the location of said RFID device, and providing an indication thereof.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising an object RFID device associated with an object that is related to a given container by a predetermined relationship, wherein said processor includes a database relating the at least one RFID device associated with the given container and the object RFID device related thereto.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the predetermined relationship includes proximity of the object and the given container, or absence of proximity of the object and the given container, or both, and wherein said processor provides an indication of whether the object and the given container are in the predetermined relationship.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the object includes a carrier carrying the given container, or a vehicle carrying the given container, or a driver or operator of a carrier carrying the given container, or a driver or operator of a vehicle carrying the given container, or an inspector of the given container, or a maintenance or service worker for the given container, or a person not authorized to be proximate the given container, or any combination of the foregoing.

33. A system for monitoring a container having at least one RFID device interior thereto, said system comprising:

an RFID device interior to a container, the RFID device periodically transmitting messages;

wherein each of the messages includes information uniquely identifying the RFID device; and

wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when the container is closed are substantially attenuated by the container, and wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when an opening in the container is open are not substantially attenuated by the container;

a receiver exterior the container for receiving messages transmitted by the RFID device interior the container;

whereby ones of the messages that are transmitted when the container is closed are substantially attenuated and/or are not received by the receiving device, and wherein ones of the messages that are transmitted when the container is tampered with and/or when the opening of the container is open are received by the receiving device; and

means for determining from the messages received from the RFID device whether the opening of the container has or not been opened and/or the container has been tampered with,

whereby a container having an RFID device therein is monitored for being opened and/or tampered with.